Reading Passage Question
According to Wimsatt and Beardsley, even though the influence of the author’s ‘intention’ upon the critic’s opinion has been disputed in a number of discussions, it is doubtful whether most of its ‘romantic corollaries’ are widely subject to questioning. The author duo finds the design or intention of the author neither accessible nor desirable as a yardstick for judging the accomplishment of a literary text. They define ‘intention’ as “design or plan in the author’s mind. The intention has obvious affinities for the author’s attitude toward his work, the way he felt, what made him write.”
Even though a text comes into existence only through the medium of an author, it is erroneous to assign the author’s design to the status of a standard by which critics are to evaluate the text. Besides, the question arises as to how a critic is to find out the ‘intention’ behind a text. Wimsatt and Beardsley believe that if the poet was successful in bringing out his intention through the words he had written, it must be evident in the poem itself. And if the poet was not successful in doing so, the critic must move outside the text to search for the intention. Unlike practical messages, which are successful only if the readers correctly infer the intention of the author, poems should just be, not mean.
Another argument that the duo puts forward is regarding the process of revision. Authors often revise their work, thereby creating multiple versions of the same text. This raises the question of which intention is to be considered by the critics. By extension, it raises the question of whether the author’s “former concrete intention was not his intention”.
Wimsatt and Beardsley conclude that a text is neither the critic’s nor the author’s. It is detached from the author at birth and goes about the world beyond his power of intention or ability to control it. The poem belongs to the public. It comes to life through language, which is the peculiar possession of the public and it is about the human being, which is an object of public knowledge.
“According to Wimsatt and Beardsley, even though the influence of the author’s ‘intention’ upon the critic’s opinion has been disputed in a number of discussions”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 4 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
Question1
The passage is primarily concerned with:
(A) an evaluator’s paradigm for evaluation.
(B) the worth of the objective at the source.
(C) public knowledge regarding a literary text.
(D) the significance of Wimsatt and Beardsley’s ideas.
(E) the question regarding the revision of literary texts.
Answer: B
Explanation: As mentioned in the passage, the value of the objective at the source is generally attributed to Wimsatt and Beardsley. This can be seen in the paragraph as the duo finds the author's intention or design to be neither approachable nor desirable as a standard by which to judge the quality of a literary text. They describe "intention" as “design or plan in the author’s mind.
Question 2
The author mentions all of the following EXCEPT:
(A) the work of the author belongs to the public.
(B) language gives life to a piece of literary work.
(C) critics consign meaning to books and poems.
(D) no one has ever questioned the intention of the poet.
(E) practical passages require an understanding of the author’s intention.
Answer: D
Explanation: As mentioned in the passage, the intentions of the poet has been questioned as the duo defines intentions as “design or plan in the author’s mind. The intention has obvious affinities for the author’s attitude toward his work, the way he felt, and what made him write.”
Question 3
According to the passage, the author most likely agrees with all of the following statements EXCEPT:
(A) the intention of the author is redundant.
(B) a text is never for the author to call his own.
(C) the author’s intention must always be preserved.
(D) the author’s attitude towards his work is set in stone.
(E) authors often revise their work creating multiple versions of the text.
Answer: D
Explanation: As mentioned in the passage, according to Wimsatt and Beardsley, the poet's aim must be clear in the poem itself if he was effective in conveying it through the words he had written. And if the poet was unsuccessful in doing so, the critic must go elsewhere to search for the intention. As authors frequently revise their writing, different versions of the same text. This begs the question of whose aim the criticism should take into account.
Question 4
What is meant by the statement that “The poem belongs to the public”?
(A) The author writes only for the public.
(B) Critics can never influence the public’s ideas.
(C) The public assigns meaning to a work of literature.
(D) Literature can be possessed only by the public.
(E) Authors and critics are outside the public domain.
Answer: C
Explanation: The claim is that readers give a piece of writing a meaning. The last line goes on to argue that it is about the human being, which is a subject of public knowledge, and that it comes to life through language, which is the peculiar possession of the public.
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